RESEARCH LINKS
Issue 1: Electoral College
The Federalist Papers: No. 68 by Alexander Hamilton
FairVote.org: “The Electoral College: How It Works Today”
House.gov: “Electoral College Fast Facts”
Heritage Foundation: “The Electoral College: Enlightened Democracy
League of Women Voters: “Who Will Elect the President? Electoral College System”
NewYorker.com: “The Case for Dumping the Electoral College”
Issue 2: 2020 Election
Vote.org: One-Stop Voting Information Site
Pew Research: “Election 2020”
Ballotpedia.org: “Presidential Election 2020”
270towin.com: “2020 Presidential Election Interactive Map”
ProCon.org: “2020 Presidential Election Site”
NYT: “2020 Presidential Election Calendar”
CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS
Issue 1: Electoral College
- Read Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist No. 68 (link above). Has the Electoral College system worked out the way Hamilton originally envisioned it?
- Is the Electoral College a good way of ensuring each voter is represented equally? If not, do you think it is important that each vote person’s vote count equally?
- Do you think the founders’ reasons for establishing the Electoral College system are still relevant today? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between a democracy and a republic? Why did the Founders dislike democratic systems? Why did they believe republican forms of government were superior?
- Do you think the Electoral College still functions well in the present day? Why or why not?
Issue 2: 2020 Election
- What is the relationship between voting and democracy?
- What information is essential for voters to make an informed decision about candidates?
- Why does campaign spending matter? What rules should exist, if any, about the claims and accusations of political campaigns?
- After reading the candidates’ positions on the issues, which issues are the most important to you and why?
- In your opinion, what are the qualities of a great leader in any political context?